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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Minimal semi-annihilating ℤ{sub N} scalar dark matter

We study the dark matter from an inert doublet and a complex scalar singlet stabilized by ℤ{sub N} symmetries. This field content is the minimal one that allows dimensionless semi-annihilation couplings for N>2. We consider explicitly the ℤ{sub 3} and ℤ{sub 4} cases and take into account constraints from perturbativity, unitarity, vacuum stability, necessity for the electroweak ℤ{sub N} preserving vacuum to be the global minimum, electroweak precision tests, upper limits from direct detection and properties of the Higgs boson. Co-annihilation and semi-annihilation of dark sector particles as well as dark matter conversion significantly modify the cosmic abundance and direct detection phenomenology.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Gravity waves from non-minimal quadratic inflation

We discuss non-minimal quadratic inflation in supersymmetric (SUSY) and non-SUSY models which entails a linear coupling of the inflaton to gravity. Imposing a lower bound on the parameter c{sub R}, involved in the coupling between the inflaton and the Ricci scalar curvature, inflation can be attained even for subplanckian values of the inflaton while the corresponding effective theory respects the perturbative unitarity up to the Planck scale. Working in the non-SUSY context we also consider radiative corrections to the inflationary potential due to a possible coupling of the inflaton to bosons or fermions. We find ranges of the parameters, depending mildly on the renormalization scale, with adjustable values of the spectral index n{sub s}, tensor-to-scalar ratio r≃(2−4)⋅10{sup −3}, and an inflaton mass close to 3⋅10{sup 13} GeV. In the SUSY framework we employ two gauge singlet chiral superfields, a logarithmic Kähler potential including all the allowed terms up to fourth order in powers of the various fields, and determine uniquely the superpotential by applying a continuous R and a global U(1) symmetry. When the Kähler manifold exhibits a no-scale-type symmetry, the model predicts n{sub s}≃0.963 and r≃0.004. Beyond no-scale SUGRA, n{sub s} and r depend crucially on the coefficient involved in the fourth order term, which mixes the inflaton with the accompanying non-inflaton field in the Kähler potential, and the prefactor encountered in it. Increasing slightly the latter above (−3), an efficient enhancement of the resulting r can be achieved putting it in the observable range. The inflaton mass in the last case is confined in the range (5−9)⋅10{sup 13} GeV.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

A description of the Galactic Center excess in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

Observations with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) indicate an excess in gamma rays originating from the center of our Galaxy. A possible explanation for this excess is the annihilation of Dark Matter particles. We have investigated the annihilation of neutralinos as Dark Matter candidates within the phenomenological Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (pMSSM). An iterative particle filter approach was used to search for solutions within the pMSSM. We found solutions that are consistent with astroparticle physics and collider experiments, and provide a fit to the energy spectrum of the excess. The neutralino is a Bino/Higgsino or Bino/Wino/Higgsino mixture with a mass in the range 84–92 GeV or 87–97 GeV annihilating into W bosons. A third solutions is found for a neutralino of mass 174–187 GeV annihilating into top quarks. The best solutions yield a Dark Matter relic density 0.06<Ωh{sup 2}<0.13. These pMSSM solutions make clear forecasts for LHC, direct and indirect DM detection experiments. If the pMSSM explanation of the excess seen by Fermi-LAT is correct, a DM signal might be discovered soon.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Non-thermal production of minimal dark matter via right-handed neutrino decay

Minimal Dark Matter (MDM) stands as one of the simplest dark matter scenarios. In MDM models, annihilation and co-annihilation processes among the members of the MDM multiplet are usually very efficient, pushing the dark matter mass above O(10) TeV in order to reproduce the observed dark matter relic density. Motivated by this little drawback, in this paper we consider an extension of the MDM scenario by three right-handed neutrinos. Two specific choices for the MDM multiplet are studied: a fermionic SU(2){sub L} quintuplet and a scalar SU(2){sub L} septuplet. The lightest right-handed neutrino, with tiny Yukawa couplings, never reaches thermal equilibrium in the early universe and is produced by freeze-in. This creates a link between dark matter and neutrino physics: dark matter can be non-thermally produced by the decay of the lightest right-handed neutrino after freeze-out, allowing to lower significantly the dark matter mass. We discuss the phenomenology of the non-thermally produced MDM and, taking into account significant Sommerfeld corrections, we find that the dark matter mass must have some specific values in order not to be in conflict with the current bounds from gamma-ray observations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Gravitational waves from domain walls in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model

The next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model predicts the formation of domain walls due to the spontaneous breaking of the discrete Z{sub 3}-symmetry at the electroweak phase transition, and they collapse before the epoch of big bang nucleosynthesis if there exists a small bias term in the potential which explicitly breaks the discrete symmetry. Signatures of gravitational waves produced from these unstable domain walls are estimated and their parameter dependence is investigated. It is shown that the amplitude of gravitational waves becomes generically large in the decoupling limit, and that their frequency is low enough to be probed in future pulsar timing observations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Gamma-rays from Heavy Minimal Dark Matter

Motivated by the Minimal Dark Matter scenario, we consider the annihilation into gamma rays of candidates in the fermionic 5-plet and scalar 7-plet representations of SU(2){sub L}, taking into account both the Sommerfeld effect and the internal bremsstrahlung. Assuming the Einasto profile, we show that present measurements of the Galactic Center by the H.E.S.S. instrument exclude the 5-plet and 7-plet as the dominant form of dark matter for masses between 1 TeV and 20 TeV, in particular, the 5-plet mass leading to the observed dark matter density via thermal freeze-out. We also discuss prospects for the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array, which will be able to probe even heavier dark matter masses, including the scenario where the scalar 7-plet is thermally produced.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Minimal but non-minimal inflation and electroweak symmetry breaking

We consider the most minimal scale invariant extension of the standard model that allows for successful radiative electroweak symmetry breaking and inflation. The framework involves an extra scalar singlet, that plays the rôle of the inflaton, and is compatibile with current experimental bounds owing to the non-minimal coupling of the latter to gravity. This inflationary scenario predicts a very low tensor-to-scalar ratio r≈10{sup −3}, typical of Higgs-inflation models, but in contrast yields a scalar spectral index n{sub s}≃0.97 which departs from the Starobinsky limit. We briefly discuss the collider phenomenology of the framework.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Search for minimal supersymmetric standard model Higgs Bosons H / A and for a $Z^{\prime}$ boson in the $\tau\tau $ final state produced in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$= 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for neutral Higgs bosons of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) and for a heavneutral Z ' boson is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb - 1 from proton–proton collisions at √s=13 TeV recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The heavy resonance is assumed to decay to a τ + τ - pair with at least one τ lepton decaying to final states with hadrons and a neutrino. The search is performed in the mass range of 0.2–1.2 TeV for the MSSM neutral Higgs bosons and 0.5–2.5 TeV for the heavy neutral Z ' boson. The data are in good agreement with the background predicted by the Standard Model. The results are interpreted in MSSM and Z ' benchmark scenarios. The most stringent constraints on the MSSM m A –tan β space exclude at 95 % confidence level (CL) tan β > 7.6 for m A = 200 GeV in the m$mod+\atop{h}$ MSSM scenario. For the Sequential Standard Model, a Z$'\atop{SSM}$ mass up to 1.90 TeV is excluded at 95 % CL and masses up to 1.82–2.17 TeV are excluded for a Z'$\atop{SFM}$ of the strong flavour model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Distributed Minimization of the Power Generation Cost in Prosumer-Based Distribution Networks: Preprint

Traditionally, electrical power was generated in big power plants. The cost of producing energy was related to the cost of fuel, e.g., carbon or gas, and by the cost of maintaining the power plants. With the advent of distributed energy resources, power can be produced directly at the edge of the electrical network by a new type of agents: the prosumers. Prosumers are entities that both consume and generate power, e.g., by means of photovoltaic panels. The cost of the power produced by prosumers is no longer related to fuel consumption since energy coming from distributed generators is essentially free. Rather, the cost is related to the remuneration that is due to the prosumers for the services they provide. The proposed control strategy minimizes the active power generation cost in the aforementioned scenario. The control scheme requires that the prosumers measure their voltage and then adjust the amount of injected power, according to a continuous time feedback control law that is indeed a projected gradient descent strategy. Simulations are provided in order to illustrate the algorithm behavior.

distributed control↗
DOE OSTI2015

Minimization of the auxiliary reagent loading for direct arylation polymerization (DArP) of 2‐bromo‐3‐hexylthiophene

ABSTRACT In this work, we present a powerful set of synthetic strategies aimed at minimization of auxiliary reagent loading for direct arylation polymerization (DArP) of 2‐bromo‐3‐hexylthiophene. As such, we report efficient lowering of Pd(OAc) 2 catalyst loading as well as loading of other auxiliary reagents, such as neodecanoic acid and N , N ‐dimethylacetamide. Unprecedented low loadings of catalyst down to 0.0313% (313 ppm) were achieved, while producing polymer in high yield (91% after Soxhlet extraction), with a high molecular weight (24.2 kDa) and carefully controlled chemical structure thus making the optimized DArP protocol significantly more cost‐effective, convenient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. The resulting polymer samples were thoroughly investigated in terms of their chemical structure as well as optical, thermal, chain ordering and electronic properties using GPC analysis, 1 H NMR, MALDI, UV–vis, GIXRD spectroscopy, DSC, and SCLC hole mobility measurements. The results demonstrate that the reagent lowering strategies increase the polymer regioregularity from 94.6 to 96.5% as evidenced by 1 H NMR spectra and corroborated by GIXRD, DSC, and UV–vis measurements. Additionally, polymer samples obtained at low reagent loading are more uniformly proton‐terminated as evidenced by 1 H NMR and MALDI end‐group analysis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53 , 1492–1499

Rudenko, Andrey E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Cost reduction in space operations - Structuring a planetary program to minimize the annual funding requirement as opposed to minimizing the program runout cost

An approach is proposed for the structuring of a planetary mission set wherein the peak annual funding is minimized to meet the annual budget restraint. One aspect of the approach is to have a transportation capability that can launch a mission in any planetary opportunity; such capability can be provided by solar electric propulsion. Another cost reduction technique is to structure a mission test in a time sequenced fashion that could utilize essentially the same spacecraft for the implementation of several missions. A third technique would be to fulfill a scientific objective in several sequential missions rather than attempt to accomplish all of the objectives with one mission. The application of the approach is illustrated by an example involving the Solar Orbiter Dual Probe mission.

Herman, D. H.↗